Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Synod of Bishops: Europe overwhelmingly in favour of remarried divorcees

The Church needs to be “more open” and be able to welcome everyone,
“regardless of differences and mistakes made.”

This is the snapshot the
Religious Information Service (SIR) gives of the first results of the
survey on the family pastoral care programme (and the embracing of
remarried divorcees) presented by Pope Francis ahead of the Synod of
Bishops.
“Belgian Catholics expect the Church to welcome everyone, regardless
of differences or mistakes made. This especially true when it comes to
gay people and remarried divorcees,” SIR says.
“Belgian Catholics, inspired by Francis, are calling for a mother
Church that embraces all: hence the need to grow in the faith and form
lively communities,” SIR highlights. The questionnaires also
placed an emphasis on the essential role women can play in Church life:
“It is they who pass on the faith to children and guide them,” Belgian
Catholics point out.
The Catholic Church in Luxembourg has also published its own analysis
of the results of the questionnaires on the family online. The Synod of
Bishops decided to send out said questionnaires in preparation for next
October’s meeting.

“The vast majority of responses came from people who
feel they have ties with the Church and identify with it,” a note
issued by the local Church reads, condemning “a growing divide between
the magisterial proclamation of the Church, the way this doctrine is
received by the members of the Church and the effect it has on them.”

The responses gathered in Luxembourg confirm the respect the Church has
for the family but they also highlight that the importance in Church
teaching has gone into “free fall” compared to the value given to
individual conscience and freedom.
According to Luxembourg’s Catholics, the Church does not offer a
suitable solution to problematic family situations. “The doctrine on
marriage, responsible fatherhood and the family is rejected in
non-ecclesial circles (sometimes even in ecclesial ones),” because the
Church is seen as a stranger and as not competent in these areas. In
their answers Luxembourg’s Catholics refer to “the suffering caused by
the exclusion from the sacraments, particularly in terms of
reconciliation.” The rule the Church has regarding access to the
sacraments appears inadequate. They urge the Church “to put the
pastoral mission of mercy into practice and create environments where it
can be introduced and experienced.” But Luxembourg didn’t express any
precise position or offer any concrete indications as to the issue of
gay couples. There was simply an appeal to the Church to “accept reality
as it is and not try to change it with moral models” and to be
welcoming and merciful.
The Religious Information Service also highlights the difference in
viewpoint between the German Church and its faithful on issues such as
couples living together before marriage, birth control and
contraception. The exclusion of remarried divorcees from the sacraments
is seen as unjustified and cruel discrimination. German Catholics also
ask for same-sex unions to be legally recognised and seen on equal terms
as marriage “as a commandment of justice”.
The number one request Swiss faithful made was for remarried
divorcees to be granted the right to receive communion. Although Swiss
Catholics fully agree on the importance of sacramental marriage and the
Christian education of children, they say it is “difficult to accept the
Church’s doctrine on the family, marriage and homosexuality.” “An
approximately 60% majority is in favour of the Church recognizing and
blessing gay couples.” There is also “strongly disagreement over with
the [Church’s] rejection of artificial contraception methods.”
Meanwhile, the Pope has nominated Mgr. Fabio Fabene as
Under-Secretary of the Synod of Bishops. He had previously been an
official in charge of the Congregation for Bishops.